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🇹🇭 Thailand /Energy & Infrastructure

Indonesia's main airport suspends flights as Krakatoa erupts

From Bangkok Post · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Indonesia suspended operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after ash from Anak Krakatoa entered surrounding airspace.
  • The disruption affected more than 22,000 passengers and 209 flights, including services to Singapore, Doha, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Bali.
  • Authorities recorded further eruptions and warned ships to avoid a three-kilometre exclusion zone, while saying the timing and scale of the next eruption could not be predicted precisely.

Indonesia’s main international airport outside Jakarta suspended operations after ash from Anak Krakatoa spread into the surrounding airspace, disrupting more than 22,000 passengers.

The volcano erupted on Saturday, sending a fountain of lava into the sky and producing booming sounds that the geology agency said could be heard up to 700 kilometres away. Two more eruptions were recorded on Sunday.

positive results indicating the spread of volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area

· Transport ministry statementThe test result led authorities to extend the airport suspension.

Authorities initially halted flights at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport from 1:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. after ash was detected nearby. The transport ministry extended the suspension to 9:30 a.m. after a paper test showed "positive results indicating the spread of volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area." The airport later announced another four-hour extension, citing increased eruptive activity.

everybody was disappointed

· Henny YensanA passenger described the reaction to having her flight rescheduled.

The suspension affected 209 flights, particularly those to and from Singapore. International routes to Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur were also affected, while at least 16 domestic flights involving Bali were cancelled.

Passengers searched for alternatives. Henny Yensan, a businesswoman who had planned to travel home with her mother, said, "everybody was disappointed." She said people did not become angry because the disruption resulted from a natural disaster. Samuel Guiberteau, a Danone executive seeking a route back to the capital, said, "nothing is certain for the moment."

nothing is certain for the moment

· Samuel GuiberteauA stranded business traveller described his search for an alternative flight.

Anak Krakatoa, meaning Child of Krakatoa, stands in the strait between Java and Sumatra. Authorities asked ships to remain alert and prohibited them from entering a three-kilometre exclusion zone. Geology agency head Lana Saria said seismic activity showed movement or the release of volcanic fluids, but added that "the timing, magnitude, and nature of the next eruption cannot be precisely predicted."

the timing, magnitude, and nature of the next eruption cannot be precisely predicted

· Lana SariaThe geology agency head warned that the volcano’s next eruption could not be forecast precisely.
About this summary

Originally published by Bangkok Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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